The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-10-06

SENLUC/US F1IGcHLc. Gen. Gfay. Inomas
G. Stewart Pennsylvania; John lhacher,
Connecticut: James E Stewart, ONO; T.
Henry jerks. Rhode Island The annual
address of the com mande--in-chlef, which Is
very long. was then presented
The general began by sending greetings to the
people of the Pacific coast for the hospitality
and cordial reception OF last year he sincerely
congratulated the order that they were per,
mitted to gather in this great metropolis, ana
thanked the citizens of st. Louis for their gen.
erous welcome. He was pleased to announce
the evidence of permanent and healthy growth
Of the Grand ARMY of the Republic and OF the
strong love of the order entertained by the loyal
people OF this country. That this NAV continue
he earnestly cautioned every MEMBER tha1 ne
keep d. watchful guard over himself when ne
acts or speaks as a member OF the u A. II and
not unc1nscl0usly further schemes foreign to
the legitimate purposes of the organization
Article 8. torbidding the use OF the organization
for partisan purposes had so tar as he knew.
been strictly obeyed in letter and spirit. FROM
Adjurant General Grays report he learned
that the total number OF members borne
on the rolls of the order at the last national
encampmeut was $50 49,. The number re-
ported June 80. 1877. was 312,614: actual gain
in five years, 40 157 The increase OF members
in ninety days ending June 80 1887 in good
standing, was 1876. In l $50 there were co.
634 members. In the last five quarters there
have been mustered into the Grand Army r.
355. There were reported June 30, 1887. IN
good standing $685. suspended, 90: by
delinquent reports. 10. se2; total at last returns
borne upon the rolls, 312.61i-an increase IN
membership that must be gratifying TO al mem
bers The amount reported expended IN charity
March. 1886, to March 1887 inclusive is $685.
9344 This money was discussed 70 1850
comrades and their families. and 3999 others
were assisted, giving 26,606 individuals
VINO had received benefits during the year. He
had established the provisional deDartments OF
Idaho and Arizona. During The year death had
claimed 3. 406 member. He selected TOR special
notice John A. Logan, who in his life had man
tfessed his love not only in words, but by active
pu 5lic and private efforts. DID any poor;
the Grand Army need defender, his was the
first name that came to the lips, and he was
never appealed TO il vain The patent Tor the
Grand ARMY badge had been duly transferred
and is now the property of the order. The coun-
ell of administration has invested 10000 Of the
surplus funds of the order in bonds OF the United
States.
MEMORIAL DAY
was more generally and appropriately observed
this wear than ever before. This day. sacred to
the memory of the fallen defenders of the re-
public has become most impressive and lu-
struc i've national holiday A letter was re-
cejved by him from Joseph W. Drexel offering
in perpetu;ty the cottage on Mount Mcdregor IN
which Cen L. S. Grant spent his last days. TO
the survivors of these gallant men who saved
the country; the only conditions being that the
cottage and surrounding grounds be held in
trust bv the commander-n-ch Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, the president OF the
Mount McGregor Railway company and another
to b. named by the donor. Gen talrchild
recommended that it be referred to the incoming
commander in-chief with authority to accept
on satisfactory arrangements. In september
last wien the citizens of Charleston, ;. u.
were suffering from the effects of a terrible
earthquake the Grand Army joined In the re-
lief. He. III company with AdJt. Gen. Gray
went to the stricken city and called upon the
comrades to raise money for relief. Collections
were rapidly made, and S7,O47 was reported to
national headquarters it was understood that
there was no Immediate haste, and before the
collections had gotten fai ly under way the
uayor of Charleston telegraphed headquarters
that no further relief would be required. Had
he Of
assured that 100000 could have been
raised WITHIN another month. Many posts had
simultaneously received the can IoT alo
commended the appointment at once OF compe-
tent comrade to write a history of the organ1za-
ton. and suggested that the general government
will include in the next deceunlal census an
enumeration of the soldiers OF the late war OF
the rebellion who may be living In 1890. Belev-
ing that the practice OF moving the national head
quarters to the place where the communicating
chief resides is becoming impracticable owing to
accumulation of the property OF the order, he
recommends that the national headquarters be
located at some central point, and that an as
sistant adju ant general be pull in charge
IN THE MATTER OF PENSIONS
il has been an aim of The order to have congress
grant relief Of the pressing needs of the COM
rades. The government has responded In many
instances. Influence has been brought to bear
on state legislation, and state soldiers and Or
phan homes and laws for temporary reilef OF IN
digent soldiers and their families have been
passed. For this work more than any other has
the Grand Army of the Republic lived-this
more than all else has ennobled its life-for this
purpose the Grand Army will in the future give
TIA earnest endeavors and by reason of its per-
sist,pt endeavors it will be remembered. The
Grand Army. with the approval OF the people in
general. have enlisted In this cause. Men of all
shades of political belief have been foremost in
these efforts and never until this year has 1t en-
tered the mind of any well informed man to
charge that this zeal in behalf OF our needy COM
rades WAS of political partisan character Inc
Grand Army Of the Republic will never consent
that this question of pensions shall be classed
among those which men commonly call partisan
IL has been for many years discussed by post,
department and national encampments. Reso-
lutions and addresses have been adopted
and published often pesl'1 baen sent
congress- The efforts of the newspapers of the
country have been enlisted and with a few ex-
cepttons they have heretofore been In full accord
with the Order There has been no change OF
opinion OF change OF method In the ranks OF the
Grand Army members. They have been OF one
mind in considering it but simple justice that
The United States should at least grant a PEN
sion of not less than $12 per month to all per-
soma who served three months or more IN the
military ordnance service of the United States
during the war Of the rebellion and VINO have
been hon oraby discharged and who are
who may hereafter be from mental or
physical disability. not the result OF
their own vicious habits, which fncapac1tatcs
them for the performance of manual labor. This
has been publicly advocated. and all men who
cared to know have been fully aware of the &C
tion, and yet until recently there has been heard
no objection to such measures. Because Others
have changed their minds, the Grand Army need
not therefore change theirs. The path in this
direction has been straight. The order has d.
vtrged neither to the right nor to the left. Be-
cause the comrades need help tho Grand
Army will draw closer and closer to them
They shall not be the inmates Of the common